The sad sights on poor Broadway

CHADDERTON councillor and resident Dave Hibbert is demanding action to sort out flooding and potholes on Broadway.

And he also wants to know why signs directing HGVs away from the road still haven’t been installed — years after they were promised.

Councillor Hibbert says the problems have to be sorted out before the A663 is declassified as a trunk road, meaning it would no longer be considered a link road between the motorway and the M62.

Oldham Council would then take over responsibility for maintenance from the Highways Agency (HA), allowing it to introduce regulation orders such as speed or waiting restrictions.

The council has agreed to the move as long as additional money is made available, improvements are carried out and signs on the M60 and M62 are changed.

Councillor Hibbert has written to the agency demanding action.

He says that the road surface has deteriorated while nothing has been done about flooding at two spots — the junctions with Hollinwood Avenue and Stott Road.

New drainage was installed on Broadway in 2005 as part of a £3.5 million improvement scheme, but Councillor Hibbert said: “Residents are constantly drawing my attention to the recurring problem.

“The draining system is known to be problematic and, consequently, there may well be other sites of which I am unaware.”

He has been pushing for motorway signs, which direct HGVs heading to Rochdale to use Broadway, to be changed since the M60 opened.

He added: “I have spoken with most, if not all, of the HA officers who, at the time, had responsibility for this area. Every one of those agreed to provide signs directing drivers who are heading for Rochdale not to use Broadway but to remain on the motorway.

“I have participated in private HA consultation exercises and attended public meetings.

“On several occasions it was stated that the HA regarded Broadway as being a part of the motorway network system.

“My response was that local people would be outraged at this suggestion because the road passes through a concentrated residential area with schools, a police station, a fire station and pedestrian crossings.

“This view is shared by all nine Chadderton councillors.”